13 militants, one soldier killed in clashes

Security forces claim 90 per cent of Orakzai has been cleared of militants.

PESHAWAR: At least 13 militants and a soldier were killed in clashes with security forces in Orakzai and Mohmand agencies on Wednesday, security officials said.

Security sources said that suspected militants attacked a security checkpoint in the Tanda area of Lower Orakzai Agency. A soldier was killed and two other officials were injured in the attack. In retaliation, at least eight suspected militants were killed by security forces.

Tanda area is situated some two kilometres east of Lower Orakzai Agency’s headquarters in Kalaya.

In a separate incident, security forces raided a militant hideout on a tip-off about militants’ movement in the area. Security sources said that five militants were killed and four others were injured in the clash in Kerar area of Safi tehsil of Mohmand Agency. The area where the clash occurred is situated some 35 kilometres northwest of the agency’s headquarters in Ghalanai.

In another incident, militants blew up a government boys middle school in Malik Lal Sher village of Safi tehsil with explosives. They later claimed responsibility for the subversive act. Sources told The Express Tribune that the number of destroyed schools has touched 58 in Mohmand, following Monday’s attack.

Meanwhile, FC’s Major General Nadir Zaib said that 90 per cent of Orakzai Agency has been cleared of militants. Zaib told journalists in a briefing that terrorists have destroyed 95 per cent of government schools, which are being converted into shelters for the time being.  There have been traces of al Qaeda’s presence in the area and most of them have escaped, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2010.