Mortar shelling kills 18 militants in upper Orakzai

Officials claim six among militants who died in the shelling were foreigners – two arabs and four Tajiks.

PESHAWAR: At least 17 militants and a militant commander were killed in the upper Orakzai Agency as the security forces pounded militant hideouts with mortar shells on Wednesday in an area that has seen a lot of violence in recent times.

The officials claimed that six among the militants who died in the shelling were foreigners – two arabs and four Tajiks.

According to security officials, security forces fired mortar shells on the militant hideouts in Kago Kamar and Tajika areas of the agency that killed 17 militants.

Officials added that an important militant commander was killed in clashes with the security forces in the Ghundaki area.

The claims could not be independently verified as the area has been closed for journalists.

Upper Orakzai and particularly the areas of Mamozai bordering the Tirah valley of Khyber have been the hub of militancy and a route for intra-agency militant movement.

The security forces have managed to cut off the movement of militants between Kurram -North Waziristan and Orakzai facing casualties in the onslaught; however the situation in the area still remains turbulent.