More than 50 dead in gunfights, air strikes in Orakzai, Kurram
On Sunday, planes bombed a tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, killing 26 militants, a senior paramilitary official told AFP.
“Jet strikes today killed 26 militants and wounded 15 others and destroyed their seven hideouts in different areas of Upper Orakzai and Kurram,” the official said.
Separately, at least 25 militants and four soldiers were killed in Bara, Khyber Agency in gunfights between March 12 and 18, the official said.
“Four security forces personnel embraced martyrdom and 12 others were wounded in gunfights which left 25 militants dead,” he said.
The official said that no militant had been killed in custody and added that the military operation was directed at the militants belonging to the Taliban-linked Laskhar-e-Islam group that is led by warlord Mangal Bagh.
The group has been involved in recent suicide attacks and kidnapping in Peshawar, which borders Khyber, he said.
Two local intelligence officials confirmed the clashes and death toll.
Independent verification of the incident is not possible as access to the area is restricted by the military.
Some 18,000 people fled their homes in Khyber in October last year amid fears of a fresh outbreak of fighting between the army and militants linked to the Pakistani Taliban.
Pakistan's seven tribal districts near the Afghan border are rife with homegrown insurgents and are strongholds of Taliban and al Qaeda operatives.
Militants have killed more than 4,800 people across Pakistan since government troops raided a mosque in Islamabad in July 2007.
COMMENTS (24)
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@Sweet Dee: what intelligence?who told you this?I am from swat and I have seen such air strikes killing just civilians but our brave forces never acknowledged it.I have strong reasons to beleive that something like this will also be happenning this in FATA but we here just ISPRS version?IS there any independent reporting from there?WHY does not our forces permit our local journalists to go there?some time they bring a correspondant or two in their convoy and show them what they want to show us .That's it.AS far as collateral damage is concerned if people here in forum are not air striked its ok.no problem such is your attitude/
@WoW: A simple google search would have gotten you the answer, but that is too much to expect from our liberal elites these days.
Other than locally produced H4 and H6 (IR guided), we have the American AGM-65 (optical guided), Paveway (laser guided), JDAM (GPS guided) plus the Chinese origin LGBs that the new JF-17 employs and also Army Aviation uses wire guided TOW missiles.
Happy?
@Pakistan politics: Because you're open hypocrites about it and everyone loves to pick on hypocrites.
@WoW: NESCOM is one of the industries making H-4, H-6 precision guided glide bombs.
@Afghan Karachite: Pakistan army fight on the ground and strikes are carried out after confirmation of ground intelligence.
Whereas Chacha USA just blindly presses the button on mere suspicion.
@Basit:
You must be military.
and what is the real story ?
LaL Masjid attack by Pakistani army led to all this war till today? The last line of this story says that after LaL Masjid attack by Pakistani Army, Millitants are attacking else where in Pakistan against security forces. This is too dangerous statement by tribune express and confirm last days Supreme Court of Pakistan's observation that Situation in FATA is reaction of some action (LaL Masjid attack by Pakistani Army). If, this is true, then remember all readers, that this war of Terror will be lost by Pakistan and all others.
@wow I suggest you research on Pakistan airforce. All missiles are guided whether laser, gps or terrain mapped. You don't drop a bomb from a moving plane without guidance. It's far worse than throwing a tennis ball from a moving car and most airforce during this era use precision guidance
@Pakistan politics: It is not a matter of standing up to them or not. Pakistanis say USA bombs mostly kill civilians but the same and more dangerous bombs (also supplied by the USA) and used by Pak and DO NOT KILL CIVILIANS. How on earth can you contradict yourselves and for how long?
@Basit: "Smart weapons, laser guided and GPS guided missiles' can you please name the Pakistani factory that are making these weapons?. Since you have learned a few things before writting you must have an answer.
@Its (still) the Economy Stupid: Unlike USAF who conducts Close Air Support bombings on minutes notice with little intelligence many times, PAF only conducts pre-planned bombing runs based on a lot of air and ground intelligence collected for weeks and only targets known hideouts. The possibility of civilian death is far less with PAF. And PAF also uses smart weapons, laser guided and GPS guided in at least 80% of sorties.
It's better to learn a few things before assuming.
@ Singh
Please spare us the fake concerns Indians.
@ Cautious
Our intel is much better than the Americans. This minimizes collateral damage. And we have more than just "dumb" bombs.
Afghan Karachite, You have nailed on head . good judgement
The comments concerning possible civilian casualties may have some merit - it's something the Pakistan military never acknowledges and is reluctant to comment on. The targeting system on an American hellfire missile is much more sophisticated than a "dumb" bomb dropped from an F16. Pakistan's military confrontations have relied heavily on artillery and fighter bombers - both are notorious for their collateral damage.
Air strikes are guided by ground intelligence. PAF is not carrying out any strategic carpet bombing campaign. And terrorist hideouts are in the hills and mountains, not in a residential colony
Congrats on our Pak Army Jawans for embracing Shadat! The nation stands behind you at this critical time, so go full throttle and clean our motherland with all these terrorist / extortionists! Pakistan Zindabad
To me the only news here is that 4 jawans embraced martyrdom. may they get the best places in Jannah and their families be given sabr. The militants will (hopefully) rot alongside their supporters.
I fully support this action to wipe out the terrorists. Few collateral damages are a lot better than the imminent colossal damages that is bound to happen if these terrorists are left to have their way.
@Afghan Karachite: If forces dont take action against them u stand up and start criticizing if they do u still remain unhappy why?
These terrorists have terrorized people of Kurram Agency for too long. The operation was long overdue. 180 million Pakistanis hope this time they will be eliminated for good.
and there was no collateeral damage. PAF zindabad best in the world. Pakistan to offer training to other air forces and will sell precision bombs at a premium price to revive the economy. I have some swamp land to sell too.
And who's gonna confirm that fifty one dead were all insurgents, not civilians? Seems like Pakistanis have got really accurate weapons that only kill insurgents. How about lending some of them to Americans who's kill ratio is 5 civilians/ 10 insurgents in Afghanistan.
ISPR says it and we believe it. Lakheer ke Faqeer! Or may be blind patriotism.
Atleast give the killing a rest today and enjoy the match.