Another 47 suspected terrorists were killed when security forces targeted their hideouts in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency on Tuesday, while two Frontier Corps officials also lost their lives when they foiled a suicide bombing in Spinwam tehsil.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that at least 27 terrorists were killed in jet aircraft strikes in Mir Ali and surrounding areas. “Eleven terrorists’ hideouts were destroyed. A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also destroyed,” the statement said.
Air strikes carried out in Khyber Agency the same day killed at least 20 terrorists and decimated 12 of their hideouts.
The statement explained that jet fighters bombed militants’ sanctuaries in the Tirah Valley during which a dozen of them in Rajgal Valley, Pak Darra, and Wachay Wone were destroyed.
Separately, a vehicle-borne suicide attack attempt was foiled in the Spinwam area of North Waziristan. According to the military’s media wing, a single-cabin explosive-laden vehicle tried to approach a check post when soldiers on duty spotted and fired at it.
Meanwhile, an official of the security forces from the area told The Express Tribune that the vehicle was crossing the check post when FC officials flagged to stop it for checking. However, the driver sped the vehicle near the Spinwam Civil Hospital after which FC officials opened fire at the driver, injuring him. But the dying militant detonated the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).
Two soldiers and a civilian embraced shahadat when roof of a nearby building collapsed due to explosion.
The official added that it was a huge explosion, however, FC officials managed to stop the militant from detonating it outside the hospital avoiding major devastation.
The vehicle exploded 100 metres short of the check post.
After the explosion, security forces launched a targeted operation against militants backed by gunship helicopters while the bodies were airlifted to Bannu CMH, the official added.
Managing the IDP influx
As many as 454,207 IDPs (36,514 families) from North Waziristan have been registered so far at Saidgai registration point.
Six ration distribution points have been established for IDPs of North Waziristan Agency while similar points were also set up in Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Tank. Moreover, 4,473 tons of ration for 40,000 families will be distributed starting today (Wednesday). Thirty-two relief goods collection points have been established by the army in all major cities of the country for donations. Meanwhile, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has released Rs349 million to the Provincial Development Management Authority (PDMA) for the establishment of camps in Bannu city, according to an official handout released on Tuesday. In district Bannu, a relief camp was established, which would work under the PDMA and will support the district administration in relief activities.
Witnessing the trend of IDPs not living in camps, the provincial government has decided to convert this amount of nearly Rs350 million into cash assistance for 15,000 displaced families, distributing Rs3,000 per month to each family for up to six months. Additionally, Rs5,000 will be given once to each family under the Ramazan Food Package.
Meanwhile, PDMA has requested all the district commissioners to constitute district-level committees to gather information about displaced persons residing with relatives, instead of living in camps. This data will be used for security as well as provision of relief and cash.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2014.
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