Gunship helicopters pound North Waziristan after militants kill security official
Security forces killed two suspected militants immediately after they attacked a check post in the area. Later, a curfew was also imposed in the Machis Camp area before the security forces launched an operation to arrest more militants.
According to details, security forces were inspecting vehicles at the check post when unidentified gunmen riding motorcycles opened fire in which a security official was severely wounded who later succumbed to his injuries.
In retaliation, security forces shot down two militants.
During the shootout, two passers-by Sadam Khan and Said Wali were also injured and were taken to the Agency Headquarters Hospital .
Heavy gunfire and artillery shelling was heard near Machis Camp after the shootout, a resident of the area told The Express Tribune.
As a result, the political administration officials in Miranshah imposed a curfew in the area at around 3:00pm while the security forces launched a search operation in Machis camp, around one kilometer towards east of the Miranshah, to arrest militants.
The armed forces were backed by gunship helicopters and artillery while several families were planning to leave the area.
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@huzaifa Oh they know. They also know that these two states are not talented enough to be strong, so no such danger. If 'strong' is taken in a positive meaning that their people are happy and prosperous, then it is probably because they made peace with India and people like you who think India is somehow an enemy are insignificant minority.
@Mirza: You have made the correct observation on use of air power and drone technology. Even US and NATO forces found aerial and artillery bombardment to be counter-productive in Afghanistan as many civilians were killed and even Indian army has never used both weopon systems in Kashmir and North-East to avoid collateral damage. Ground operations can only be successful if hammer and anvil tactics is used ie sandwiching the terrorists from all sides which causes maximum causalities on them but if they are allowed free passage, the whole purpose of these operations is lost. US had suggested for joint or coordinated operations on both sides of the border with Pakistan for eliminating them which was surprisingly rejected by Pakistan.
Somesh@ You indians are very fond of the east Pakistan reference. In the future, you will come to know about the effects of separation of East Pakistan when you will be a sandwich between two strong Muslim states.
If one soldier is killed helicopter gunships launch immediately retaliatory attacks on the suspects. But, when hundreds of civilians are killed it doesn't warrant any action. The conclusion: the lives of hundreds of civilians is not worth as much as that of a soldier!
@Iqbal
You don't even make any sense..
The military is the biggest joke. Why are a bunch of militants running the agenda of Pakistan? If there ever was a war with an external force then Pakistan would be wiped out in 48 hours. I am so ashamed.
@Umer: You hit the nail on the head. It is becoming obvious that this is similar to an eBay auction that ends in 2014 (or earlier depending on if Obama gets re-elected),
They have to be fought. Haphazard Gunship helicopters, shelling or precise drones. Make up your mind.
@Nadir: ask this question from your mentors imran khan and maulana diesel.
Finally the army is doing their primary job for which they are paid by the poor public. The irony is when Pakistani army pounds these terrorists no innocents are harmed. When the US targets the same terrorists using latest technology many of us have problem with deaths of innocent people! If we have to eliminate these fanatic barbaric terrorists, the use of drones is the best way to target the terrorists only. Anyway better late than never.
Not that I disagree with the principal but why have we started doing this all of a sudden when we allowed tens of soldiers to be slaughtered unanswered over the last few years
The miracle is that the gunship helicopters (armed with unguided rockets, cannon, machineguns and missiles) are so precise that they can kill only the verified bad Taliban. Unlike the drones, gunships do not kill civilians and therefore there's no need to talk about how each person killed by them will spawn many more who seek revenge.
It is high time that the army took action against the militants, they created them and they will have to get rid of them. Pakistan is at the edge of a cliff, about time our inept govenment took charge of a problem that has been allowed to fester for too long, as this may comsume the entire nation.
Golden opportunity for the Army to sweep NWA and help clean up the area and improve the security the in the country. As Altaf bhai said - "It's now or never."
Pakistan Army seems to retaliate and goes into action against these terrorist only when their soldier have been killed, which indicates that they are only looking out for their own, Had the Army been serious about terrorism from the start we would not have in this position today. Anyways little action is better then no action.
Pounding militant positions with artillery and helicopter gunships doesn't appear to be the right tactics to tackle counter-insurgency as it causes more collateral damage than killing terrorists. Hope ground operations are launched at the earliest which is the only method to defeat these hard-core terrorists.
All that is fine but who will now answer to Taliban Khan?
Why is the government dithering over whether or not to eliminate the Taliban? Its now or never....
Gunship helicopters have MORE collateral damage than drones.
Get the job done this time.
The more army waste their time in doing politics, the more soldiers and civilians have to die. We all know who holds the power to make decision. It is perfect spring season to meet all fanatics with their true God.
This proves that operation in North Waziristan is no problem. It’s just that we managed to end the Taliban who is going to pay dollars to fight terrorism anymore?
So a security official is attacked and gunship helicopters pound militants. But 33000 Pakistanis are killed, and we are supposed to "understand disgruntled Muslim brothers"?
Why can't we do that more often to keep the militancy under control?
Gunship helicopters pound North Waziristan after militants kill security official 1971: The Mummy Returns....