Security clashes: Around 60 militants killed in Bara, Orakzai

Four troops, including a lieutenant, also die in Bara.

PESHAWAR/HANGU:

Around 60 militants were killed in separate clashes with security forces in Khyber and Orakzai agencies on Saturday, officials said.

Of these, at least 39 militants and four security personnel, including an officer, were killed in clashes in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency.

“The incident took place in the Alamdgudar area during an operation which lasted for several hours,” a security official told The Express Tribune.

“Around 39 militants were killed,” he said, while confirming the death of four security personnel, including a lieutenant.

Official sources said that seven security personnel were also injured during the operation that began early morning and lasted till late evening.

Orakzai clashes

Meanwhile, about 22 militants were reported dead in clashes with security forces and bombing by fighter jets in parts of Orakzai Agency on Saturday, security officials said.

Security forces and militants clashed late on Friday in Khadezai area of Upper Orakzai Agency, a security official said.

At least 10 militants, including a senior commander identified as Zulfiqar, were killed, while eight others, including another key militant Hasbullah, were injured.

The official said that fighter jets also pounded suspected militants hideouts in the Sama, Adukhel, Jab, Kagu Kamar and Akhund Kot areas of the Upper Orakzai agency, killing about 12 militants.

Three militant hideouts were also destroyed in this blitz.

Earlier, Taliban militants killed a senior pro-government tribal elder Malik Waris Khan on Friday. Khan was decorated by the government earlier last year for his part in the fight against militancy.

The claims could not be independently verified as access to the area is prohibited for journalists.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2012.